Hey guys! Here's chapter 15 all done up for you! I hope you all enjoy this one.

Chapter 15

The next few days pass by quickly during our recovery and relaxation. I have tried spending as much time as I can between each dwarf, wanting to get to know everyone better.

Gloin tells me more stories about his wife Alma and son Gimli. I smile every time he talks about his family, but whenever I hear Gimli's name, I always get a niggling at the back of my mind, the deja vu again that I've been feeling ever since I came here. I know I have never been here before, I don't knoe anything about this world, but how come I'm having these strange feelings? And understanding Azog. . .how could that happen?

As well as Gloin, I spend time with his older brother Oin, the both of us running through more healing remedies, with me borrowing some parchment and a quill to write them from my tablet. That was the first time I've ever used a quill and ink, it made me feel like I was in Harry Potter or something.

I continue my training with Fili and Kili, Dwalin sometimes joining in. Thorin has also joined us a couple of times. On one of these occasions, he had me do one on one training with just him, to see how far I have come. He seems happy with my progress so far, even though, when we had a mini spar, he disarmed me within a couple of moves, which I was expecting. Kili's also been teaching me how to fletch arrows, which is something I enjoy to do.

Halfway through our stay, a lot of us are relaxing in the grass, while others are training or for Bilbo and Aiden, walking around the fields. As I am resting underneath a tree, I look around and my gaze stops on Bifur, who is sitting away from the rest of us as he's carving something from a piece of wood. I have not spent much time with Bifur during this journey, not knowing how to communicate with him, since I've been told he can only speak the dwarven language, Khuzdul.

Looking around again, I wave Bofur over, who was sitting not far away. He gets up and walks over to sit with me.

"What can I do for you, lass?" he asks.

"Your cousin, Bifur, I wanted to ask before, but I didn't want to overstep. But, him only speaking your language, I know he can understand me, but can't he speak Engli-Westron because of. . ." I drag on the end of the sentence as I point to my forehead.

He nods. "Aye lass. He received that injury due to a battle with some orcs many years ago. Ever since, he has only been able to speak Khuzdul and Iglishmek, dwarven sign language." he added, seeing my confused look. "Luckily, he can still understand the common language, Westron, so he can understand you and Aiden really well. He's also been known to. . .have violent outbursts in the past. In fact, I think this quest is the calmest I've seen him in a long time. I believe it's thanks to your lad."

I look to him in surprise at this, he gives a smile in return.

"You remember me telling you he's a toy maker?" I nod. "Well, as I mentioned before, a lot of the children at home seem to fear him a little, due to the axe, his nature and wild appearance. Aiden, once he was able to get over his fear, he didn't shy away from Bifur, even if the lad couldn't understand him, he would just sit peacefully next to him. I think he's working on a toy for him now."

I smile as I watch the toy maker continue to carve the wood. "If there was a way that we could communicate with each other, do you think he'd be willing to learn?"

He looks to me a moment. "That depends what you have in mind, lass."

"Well, you mentioned the sign language. In my world, I learnt BSL, which is British Sign Language. I learnt it from a young age since my dad was deaf. Do you think he'd like to learn it?"

He smiles. "That's really nice of you to offer, Sophia. I don't think he would object to it if you asked."

I smile and nod as I thank him before I excuse myself from him and stand then walk over to Bifur. He looks up as he hears me approaching. I smile at him.

"Do you mind if I joined you?"

He shakes his head with a smile, patting the ground beside him. I sit down and watch as he continues to carve, the knife just gliding along the wood, the shavings falling to the ground.

"I imagine you must need a lot of patience to make toys. The amount of detail that would be needed. . .I don't know if I could do it."

He smiles as he holds out his knife and the wood to me. I blink in surprise.

"What? You. . .want me to try?" he nods, causing me to smile. "Oh, no, I'm fine, really. I don't want to ruin your work."

Instead of holding it out, he places the wood in my left hand, knife in my right and while keeping hold of both, he helps me to carve a few shavings, before pulling back and letting me continue for a little bit before I hand them back with a smile.

"Thank you for letting me try it. I may have some patience, but I don't think I have as much as you do. You sure have a talent, Bifur."

He smiles wide as he continues. We fall into a comfortable silence for a few moments before I clear my throat.

"Bifur, can I talk to you about something?" he nods as he sets his craft aside to turn to me. "I've been talking with Bofur and I asked him about you bring unable to speak Westron. I was wondering, would you be interested in me teaching you a way for us to communicate?"

He raises an eyebrow, though his expression seems to be intrigued in my offer.

"I've been watching you and the others speak with your hands, and where I'm from, we have a similar language we use to communicate with those that are deaf or hard of hearing. I was brought up with it since my dad was deaf. I could teach you and we can communicate. Aiden's been learning it too."

He looks at me a moment, taking everything in before smiling and nods. He then does something that surprises me. He leans over and hugs me. I blink, sitting still for a moment before I raise my arms and wrap them around him, smiling as I do so. Over his shoulder, I see Bofur smiling at us, mouthing "thank you". I smile and nod to him.

So, after that conversation, I began teaching Bifur along with Aiden sign language, starting off with a few basic signs such as hello, goodbye, thank you, how are you, etcetera. Bifur is a good student, his patience from making toys working really well here. He's more patient than Aiden is, although, his patience seems to be rubbing off on the boy as Aiden seems to be calmer than he usually is during these lessons.

As well as learning sign language, in the mornings, I start off my morning yoga routine, which I have been lax on since coming here. My therapist said I should do something to calm my mind, so I chose yoga. During these sessions, Bifur has also joined me and I've taught him a few positions.

I've also spent quite a lot of time with Bombur, as well as learning more about his wife and children, we have also been cooking together. He asked if there were some things from my world which I could make, so I did.

I had made some oat and honey bars with some dried fruits a few others also had nuts in, which I did not eat as I do not like nuts. I also found out Beorn had all the ingredients needed to make a sponge cake, although he didn't have the right cake tins, I was able to improvise. Luckily, due to my eidetic memory, I can remember in detail how to make it and the right ingredients needed. So, seeing there wasn't any caster sugar, I asked Bombur to grind some sugar down until it was almost like sand, and then grinding some more down even more than that, so now I have improvised caster sugar and icing sugar.

My only issue with baking in this age, is I have no idea how hot the oven is, so I don't have a timeline to go on for when the cake is done. Thankfully, Bombur, who has told me has baked numerous times before, is a big help for me to figure out when to check and after some time, I finally pull the perfectly baked cakes out of the oven. Once they have cooled down, I put a jam filling into the middle and dusting with the makeshift icing sugar.

With the amount of people there are, I thankfully made two cakes by the time dinner rolled around and as I serve a slice to each dwarf and Bilbo – Beorn and Gandalf having not been seen the past couple of days – I'm happy that they really enjoy the cake. Aiden, having grown up with my baking, always loves it when I bake, so I'm always happy to see him tucking into it with vigour.

But yet, for some reason I can't put a finger on, Thorin's opinion was that one that mattered the most to me at this moment. I don't know why, but since the goblin tunnels, since Azog, the dynamic between the dwarf king and I has changed considerably. Or at least it has for me. Seeing Thorin charge up to Azog on the clifftop. . .it stirred a fear in me that I have not felt before, especially seeing him on that rock, hovering over him. I was so scared we were going to lose him that day. And then at the river, where we. . .almost kissed. Even just thinking about that is enough to send my heart racing like a heard of horses. After David, I had never once thought about getting into a new relationship. Not only could I not put Aiden through that stress, but I couldn't go through with it either. The fear of being in a relationship with another man. . .it had always stopped me from even wanting a relationship. But, with Thorin. . .that is something I am seriously considering.

Smiling, I look towards where Thorin is sitting in between Fili and Aiden, eating the cake I made and pride fills my being as I see him enjoying my baking, even going for another slice. I can just imagine Thorin, Aiden and I in our own home, the both of them playing in the lounge while I'm cooking in the kitchen, smiling as I hear the both of them laughing. And then seeing the three of us lounging on a sofa after we have eaten, Thorin reading a story to the boy until he falls asleep on his lap, the two of us soon following as we cuddle together.

A loud guffaw from Dwalin pulls me from my daydream, bringing me back to reality. I quietly slip out of the house and sit under a tree, wrapping my arms around my knees, cursing myself for even having those thoughts. That could never happen, I'm on this quest to find my way home, not think up of a future that could never come to pass. So lost in my thoughts, I don't notice Balin making his way to me, until he is sitting besides me.

"Oh! Sorry, Balin. I didn't see you there."

He chuckles. "No worries lass. I could see you had other things on your mind." he says kindly, settling himself on the grass. "What troubles you? Do you want to talk about it?"

I think about it for a while. Is this something I should really say to the old dwarf? I know Balin is Thorin's advisor, or one of anyway, would he be at liberty of telling him about my worries and woes? Or could I trust him to keep it a secret.

"You needn't worry, lassie. Anything we talk about stays between us. You have nothing to fear." he says with a smile, seeming to have read my thoughts.

I give him a smile before sighing. "I honestly don't know, Balin. My head is just so confused at the moment, I can't put anything to right. Aiden and I got brought here to keep us safe, to get us away from our fate. . .but, is there something more to that?"

I had never spoken these thoughts out loud before, but for the past couple of weeks, I had often thought about if there was another reason as to why Aiden and I were brought here. It could not just have been to keep us safe, as when we do get to the end and are able to go home, we would be right back where we were, in danger yet again. So. . .did the Valar have another reason as to why we are here? I voice these thoughts out aloud to Balin and see him frowning in thought.

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer to that, lass. All I can say is that you and Aiden were blessed with a chance to get out of a dangerous situation. Albeit, walking head first right into more danger, but that's neither here nor there."

We have a chuckle at that. I see him looking at me as I go back into my thoughts, my head a jumbled mess right now.

"Do you. . .not want to go back?"

I hesitate. At one point, I would have said yes without question. My world is my home after all. Yes, there's the threat of David back there, but there are a few friends that are and have been a big help to my son and I. But yet, as I think about the dwarves, about Bilbo, I cannot help but think I have found something more than friends. . .I've found a family. . .a family I thought to have lost since losing my parents and my sister, the last of my family. Even Aiden has come around, coming out of his shell, and seems to be a lot better off here with them.

"At one point. . .I would have said yes. But now. . . ."

He nods. "Have you ever thought. . .you could make a home here? You would be more than welcome to stay with us, in Erebor."

I look to him. "Would that even be possible? Humans living among dwarves? I know how secretive you folks are."

"Well, to those we don't trust, maybe. But, you and Aiden have managed to wiggle your way into our stubborn hearts. We've come to love you both as much as we would our own families. I speak for everyone when I say that it saddens us to think that one day, we may have to say goodbye."

I give him a small smile. "As it saddens me. In such a short amount of time, I have also come to love all of you. You have all been so kind and welcoming to my son and I from day one. Even when we thought we were to say goodbye in Rivendell, you had included Aiden and I in your group, still continuing to train us and just. . .be there for us. With all of you, I have found something I never expected to find; Family. You are all my family, Balin. Before, I was never comfortable among a large group of people, and then to be thrust into a new world and travelling with a group like yours. . .it was intimidating at first. Especially with Dwalin. I mean no disrespect, but your brother is terrifying upon first meeting him."

He laughs at this, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "No offence taken, lass. My brother can appear to be a big brute, but in actuality, he is the biggest softie you could imagine. When Fili and Kili were young, no taller than your knees, you would often see him around them. Teaching them, playing with them and showing them affection. I know it is hard to believe, but there's so much more to my brother than you see."

I smile. "I do believe it, Balin. I see it when he interacts with Aiden. I know Aiden was terrified of him at first, but now. . .now I know Aiden sees him as the uncle he never had. I see how he admires the dwarf. I could not be more grateful for the patience you have all shown my boy. To see how far he has come. . ." I frown at this, allowing Balin to take my hand in comfort. "That is another reason I doubt whether to go back. I don't want to see all that progress go away, for him to revert to the scared little boy he once was. I know we don't belong in this world, but how could I do that to him?"

He puts his free arm around my shoulders to pull me close. "I cannot tell you what you need to do, my dear. Only you can do that. But, just because you and Aiden weren't born here, doesn't mean you don't belong. You could belong here, if you choose it. We would only be happy to welcome you home, welcome you into our family."

I smile and nod, pulling myself away after letting him comfort me for a few moments. "Thank you, Balin. I appreciate you coming to ease my mind."

He smiles back. "Anytime lass. Anytime."

Over the next few days, I really take to heart everything that Balin and I talked about. Could Aiden and I really stay? Could we actually make a home for ourselves here? Oh, I really wish he had not suggested that. It makes my decision that much harder. Do we go home and risk everything with David? Or do we stay and I risk heart break with Thorin?

I know I am being selfish here. Aiden is my top priority, the better option would be to stay, I can't put him through all of that again. Here, he's happy. He has people around who care about him, he's not having to stop being who he is. Even though I do miss how clingy he was to me, I love it much more how he's actively seeking out the males in the company, I've even seen him come around with Beorn, when he's home, who has taken Aiden around to introduce to his animals.

But, even with all that, I can't help but selfishly think about myself, and how heartbreaking it would be to stand aside and watch Thorin go about his day, knowing I could never be with him. Not only is he a dwarf and I'm just a human, he's going to be a King for crying out loud! There are plenty of noble women and no doubt a few princesses he could choose to be his wife and Queen. Why would he settle for someone like me? Someone who isn't pure and already has a son. With this world, this timeline, being almost like the Middle Ages of my would, there is no way he would be seen raising another woman's child. Yes, it's mostly common in my world now, but back then. . .they're like lions joining a new pride. Could I really continue to live on my life with a broken heart for Aiden's sake? It would be hard. . .so hard. . .but it would be something I would need to do. For Aiden, I would do anything.

Well, there we have it. Chapter 15 done and gone and poor Sophia's really going through some mental anguish here. Will she decide to stay in the end? You'll have to keep reading to find out. I hope you all enjoyed this, please keep your reviews coming, I love hearing from you all xxxx